Vitamin D: Nancy Eyler, MD, FACP Medical Director, Diabetes & Endocrinology Community Medical Center Missoula, MT Calcium and bone metabolism: Enhances intestinal absorption of both calcium and phosphorus into circulation. Promotes mineralization of bone: Calcium incorporation into cartilaginous bone matrix. Champions for Quality Conference, Helena, MT, July 17, 2010 1 2 Vitamin D deficiency: Severe Vit. D deficiency: rickets. Osteomalacia ( soft bones ): Saber shins: bowing of lower legs, due to inadequate bone mineralization in childhood. Prevented by levels of 25 hydroxy Vit. D > 10 ng/ml. Also caused abnormal spine curvature with exaggerated lumbar lordosis, and flattening of pelvis (decreased AP diameter), interfering with birth canal. History: this was the original reason for development of the C section procedure. Vitamin D deficiency: Milder Vit. D deficiency: Appears asymptomatic. Limited ingestion/absorption of calcium or Vit. D normal physiologic increase in PTH (parathyroid hormone) increased resorption of bone maintain normal serum calcium, but at expense of bone density (secondary hyperparathyroidism). Exacerbates osteoporosis. 3 4 1
Not Just Your Mother s Vit. D Deficiency : Recent research shows Vit. D also important in: Neuromuscular function: strength and coordination, risk of falling. Myalgias: chronic pain in elderly improved with Vit. D supplementation; fibromyalgia. Immune function Infections: TB: cathelicidin production in macrophages. Influenza: flu season occurs in spring, after winter, when population s Vit. D levels are lowest. Enhances innate immunity, first line of defense against invading pathogens. Nonclassic Actions of Vit. D: Immune function Autoimmune diseases: Dampens adaptive immunity, T and B cells which recognize and attack specific antigens. Vit. D deficiency associated with increased rates of: Type 1 diabetes Rheumatoid arthritis Multiple sclerosis Asthma Rejection of transplanted organs 5 6 Nonclassic Actions of Vit. D: Cancer prevention: enhances regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, affects cancer growth. Evidence best in colorectal cancer; mixed for breast and prostate cancer. Type 2 diabetes: Vit. D stimulates insulin production Decreases insulin resistance (by HOMA measurement). In people with IFG (impaired fasting glucose), saw significant decrease in progression to overt T2DM when treated with Vit. D 700 IU/day and calcium 500 mg/day. Nonclassic Actions of Vit. D: Renin production in kidney: Increased in Vit. D deficiency. Increased angiotensin, aldosterone, and vascular tone. Increased HTN and LV hypertrophy. Cardiovascular disease: Increased frequency of MI and sudden cardiac death when serum levels of 25 hydroxy D were low. 7 8 2
Vit. D Metabolism: Sunlight on skin produces Vit. D from cholesterol precursors. Balance with risk for skin cancer. Food sources (limited): Vit. D fortified milk, cod liver oil. Supplements often needed. Requires hydroxylation (addition of OH group) at 2 places on Vit D molecule: 1) Liver: 25 hydroxy D (or 25 OH D) 2) Kidney: 1,25 dihydroxy D (or 1,25 dioh D) Then active Vit. D can bind to the Vit. D receptor. A few other tissues are capable of producing 1,25 dioh D locally (immune cells); importance of Vit. D action beyond bone metabolism. Vit. D: How Much is Enough? What do you measure? Serum 25 OH D. This level is mostly dependent on availability of substrate Vit. D. Could be low in chronic liver disease, but only if severe. Long serum half life, therefore stable serum level. 9 10 Vit. D: How Much is Enough? Don t measure 1,25 dioh D: This level may remain adequate even when Vit. D is deficient. Secondary hyperparathyroidism will develop, then PTH increases renal hydroxylation of Vit. D; therefore this level may not be a good reflection of adequate Vit. D availability. Short serum half life; variable serum level; may not accurately reflect physiologic status. Normal Range: Past: defined as average level obtained at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. in winter. 25 OH D > 10 ng/ml will prevent rickets, but is not sufficient for additional actions of Vit D. Desirable level currently being defined: > 20 ng/ml will probably prevent secondary hyperpara. Current consensus: > 30 ng/ml Possibly >40 ng/ml for some functions 11 12 3
Normal Range: Toxic effects probably won t occur unless > 100 150 ng/ml. Hypercalcemia may occur at lower levels in people with primary hyperparathyroidism, or with uncontrolled granulomatous disease (sarcoidosis). Measured in ng/ml in US; nmol/l elsewhere. Factor of 2.5: 30 ng/ml = 75 nmol/l Vit. D ubiquitous in living world: D2 in plant kingdom; ergocalciferol. D3 in animal kingdom; cholcalciferol. D3 binds more tightly to animal (human) Vit. D receptor, vs. D2. D2 binds to human receptor, but doesn t stay bound as long; effective duration of action of each dose is shorter. If giving daily dose, D2 vs. D3 probably doesn t matter. Most OTC supplements now are D3. 13 14 If giving large doses of Vit. D intermittently, the duration does matter. Prescription Vit. D (Drisdol) is D2 50,000 I.U., in bright green capsule (generic ~ $2.70/capsule). New pharmacologic D3 preparation (Replesta) OTC, 50,000 I.U. in orange flavored wafer (~ $4/wafer). After single dose of D2 50,000 IU, serum 25 OH D is back to baseline after 2 weeks. After single dose of D3 50,000 IU, serum 25 OH D stays up for 1 month or more. To correct significant deficiency, consider D2 50,000 IU once weekly x 3 months, then lower dose of OTC D3 daily after that. Or try the new D3 50,000 IU when fully available, for the first 3 months. It takes 1,000 IU daily of Vit. D administration to raise serum 25 OH D by 10 ng/ml. If baseline 25 OH D were 19 ng/ml, you d want to raise it by 10 20 ng/ml. Therefore, need 1,000 2,000 IU of Vit. D daily. Even after a 3 month course of pharmacologic Vit. D, it will wear off. Serum level will return to baseline if maintenance therapy not given. 15 16 4
Don t give very high doses at very long dosing intervals: Study (JAMA, May, 2010): Gave D3 500,000 IU (50,000 IU daily x 10 days) as single annual dose in community dwelling older women, in fall or winter, for 3 5 yrs. Higher rate of falls and fractures in the high dose Vit. D group vs. placebo: RR 1.26 for fractures, 1.15 for falls. Fractures and falls occurred esp. in first 3 months after giving the annual dose. Don t give prescription D2 150,000 IU q. 3 months. It s best not to assume that everyone needs megadose Vit. D. Intake of both calcium and Vit. D vary at baseline. Absorption of both calcium and Vit. D also vary; decreased in elderly. 17 18 Measure 25 OH D in those at risk: Older adults Limited sun exposure (mobility, skin Ca, clothing, latitude) Bariatric surgery Dark skinned persons Obesity (larger requirement?) Diabetes In primary hyperparathyroidism: Vit. D deficiency will make PTH go even higher; more bone resorption. Try to restore normal level of 25 OH D, and give adequate calcium intake, unless hypercalcemia actually does worsen. 19 20 5
Vit. D in Chronic Kidney Disease May have impaired renal hydroxylation, low 1,25 dioh D. But measuring 1,25 dioh D generally still not helpful. CKD patients are just as likely as general population to be deficient in conventional Vit. D. Measure serum 25 OH D. Bring up to goal level with conventional Vit. D supplements. In CKD (egfr < 60 ml/min), measure PTH. If not elevated, Vit. D analog therapy is not yet needed. Vit. D in Chronic Kidney Disease Cont d: If PTH doesn t come down, then Vit D. analog might be needed. OR, person might be calcium deficient. Check calcium intake. Measure 24 hr urine calcium; goal 100 300 mg/day. In advanced CKD, avoid excessive correction of PTH, due to higher risk of calcification of vascular plaque, and higher CVD rates. See Table, next slide. (At kidney.org, KDOQI Guidelines, Bone Metabolism and Disease in CKD, Eval. of Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism, Table 15.) 21 22 PTH Goals in CKD: CKD PTH (pg/ml) PTH (pmol/l) Stage 3: GFR 30 59 ml/min Stage 4: GFR 15 29 ml/min Stage 5: GFR < 15 ml/min or dialysis 35 70 3.85 7.7 70 110 7.7 12.1 150 300 16.5 33.0 Vit. D: Clinical Perspective Caveat: Although some of the information about Vit. D benefits has been shown in interventional studies, much of the information about benefits of Vit. D is observational, not yet confirmed in randomized controlled clinical trials. Given failure of B vitamins and antioxidants to show clinical benefit for CVD (or cancer), maintain some caution in our enthusiasm. 23 24 6
Vit. D: Clinical Perspective Goal of 25 OH D 30 60 ng/ml for most people is probably sound. New national guidelines: Vit. D 800 1,000 IU daily for adults, and 400 IU daily for children. This is still a conservative position. Vit. D 2,000 IU daily is recommended for pregnant women. For many adults, 2,000 IU daily may be a good idea. Some people may need even higher doses; depends on 25 OH D level. Case: Mrs. O. 75 y/o white woman has DEXA with T score 2.5 at lumbar spine. Serum calcium is 9.4 mg/dl. PTH is 120 ng/ml (< 65). Refer to ENT surgeon for parathyroidectomy? 25 26 3 inch height loss over past 20 yrs. Recent rib fracture when fell into dining room table. Had mild CVA a few yrs ago; developed seizure disorder; takes phenytoin/dilantin. Lives alone, doesn t get out much due to arthritis and mild gait difficulty; uses walker. What else would you like to know? 25 OH D is 15 ng/ml. Dilantin interferes with hepatic hydroxylation of Vit. D. She also has limited sun exposure. She takes a multivitamin with Vit. D 400 IU daily. She takes calcium 1 pill daily. Her pill is calcium citrate; label indicates 500 mg calcium, but serving size is 2 pills. She gets only 250 mg calcium daily. How would you treat her? 27 28 7
Fracture studies do not show benefit for Vit. D doses of 400 IU daily or less. Try Vit. D3 2,000 IU daily to raise her 25 OH D into 30 s ng/ml. Consider initial loading dose of Vit. D2 50,000 IU once weekly for 3 months, followed by daily dose above. Increase calcium citrate to 2 pills TID (1,500 mg calcium daily). Recheck 25 OH D and 24 hr urine calcium later on. 29 Studies in elderly show benefit when Vit. D and calcium are both given; possibly less benefit if only 1 of these nutrients is given. Benefits: Reduced fractures Reduced falls Reduced overall mortality, whether a fracture occurs or not. 30 Don t give teriparatide/forteo until Vit. D and calcium deficiencies are corrected, and PTH is back to normal. Forteo is contraindicated in uncorrected secondary hyperparathyroidism as well as primary hyperparathyroidism. Bisphosphonates won t be effective until Vit. D and calcium are sufficient. Also consider strengthening program, gait training, and assessing home for fall risk. THANK YOU!!! Nancy Eyler, MD, FACP Community Physicians Group Diabetes & Endocrinology Associates 1211 Reserve St. South, Suite 202 Missoula, MT 59801 Ph: 406 327 4791 Fax: 406 327 4790 Email: neyler@communitymed.org 31 32 8